Jonah Was Greatly Displeased

Transcription

1 "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." ( Jonah Was Greatly Displeased JON 4:1 But it greatly displeased Jonah, and he became angry. 1. Most preachers are pleased and excited when people repent. a. Jesus taught the angels of heaven rejoice when even one sinner repents. (Lk. 15:10). b. Imagine the joy of heaven when all the Ninevites repented! 2. Jonah was very angered. a. He did not have an ounce of love for the Ninevites. b. He wanted them utterly destroyed. 3. It would seem he was angry at God and at himself that the Ninevites had repented. Reveals His Reason For Fleeing To Tarshish JON 4:2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, "Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore, in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that Thou art a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. 1. He knew God is a loving and forgiving God. 2. He knew there was a chance the people of Nineveh would repent, and he did not want them to repent. 3. He did not want them to be forgiven and enjoy God s rich and bountiful blessings. Jonah Wants To Die JON 4:3 "Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life." 1. He could not stand the fact he was successful in bringing the Ninevites to repentance. 2. He would rather be dead than live and see the Ninevites in a state of grace and forgiveness. 3. He felt shame for his part in their conversion. 4. Earlier he had thanked God for his deliverance from death, but this gratitude quickly ended. The Lord asked Do You Have Good Reason To Be Angry? JON 4:4 And the Lord said, "Do you have good reason to be angry?" 1. God, who wants all men to be saved (2 Pet. 3:9), did not believe Jonah had a valid reason to be angry and 1

2 depressed. 2. This question was asked to make Jonah think about his sinful attitude and actions. 3. He was being controlled by his hatred rather than by a merciful heart. 4. A man of God is a man with a merciful and compassionate heart. Jonah Travels To The East Of Nineveh JON 4:5 Then Jonah went out from the city and sat east of it. There he made a shelter for himself and sat under it in the shade until he could see what would happen in the city. 1. Jonah traveled to the east of Nineveh and made a shelter for himself. 2. He sat under the shelter to see what would happen to the city of Nineveh. 3. He was still hopeful God would destroy this city and all who were in it. 4. Jews believed Jehovah was their God and they did not want to share Him especially with their enemies. 5. The older brother in the parable of the prodigal son was angry his brother repented and was getting so much attention. (Lk. 15:28-30). The Lord God Appointed A Plant JON 4:6 So the Lord God appointed a plant and it grew up over Jonah to be a shade over his head to deliver him from his discomfort. And Jonah was extremely happy about the plant. No one knows what kind of gourd [vine, plant] God used to provide shelter for him. 1. The language the Lord God appointed a plant manifested the plant growing in that particular spot was no accident. a. The word appointed occurs 4 times in this short book. (Jon. 1:17; 4:6, 7, 8). 1) A great fish (Jon. 1:17). 2) A plant (Jon. 4:6). 3) A worm (Jon. 4:7). 4) A scorching east wind (Jon. 4:8). b. The word appointed is not the Hebrews bara meaning to create, to bring into existence from nothing. c. It denotes miraculous intervention from the One who has all creation at His disposal. 2. The plant became shade for Jonah. 3. Jonah was extremely happy about the shade of the plant that gave him relief from the scorching sun. 4. He is showing joy for the first time and is for a plant. 2

3 Worm JON 4:7 But God appointed a worm when dawn came the next day, and it attacked the plant and it withered. 1. God appointed a worm to attack the plant. 2. The worm killed the plant that had miraculously grown overnight to shelter Jonah. God Appointed A Scorching East Wind JON 4:8 And it came about when the sun came up that God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah's head so that he became faint and begged with all his soul to die, saying, "Death is better to me than life." 1. Jonah became faint because of the wind and the heat beating down on his head. 2. He begs for death saying Death is better to me than life. See Jon 4:3. 3. He was very wrong. a. God had used him to lead tens of thousands to salvation. b. We know nothing about his last days, but it is most probable that God would use him to lead others to salvation. Jonah Angry About The Plant JON 4:9 Then God said to Jonah, "Do you have good reason to be angry about the plant?" And he said, "I have good reason to be angry, even to death." 1. God asks if Jonah had good reason to be angry about the plant. 2. God did not ask this question for information, but to get a response from the pouting and angry Jonah. 3. Jonah believed he did, and he was so upset that he wanted to die. 4. He was first angered the Ninevites were spared, but now he was angry the vine was destroyed. 5. Jonah had a real anger issue. God Is Angered At Jonah JON 4:10 Then the Lord said, "You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work, and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight. 1. God was angered because Jonah had compassion over a temporary plant that he did not cause to grow. 2. He was concerned about the plant, but not for lost men. 3. It is sad there are countless people today like Jonah. a. They can become upset and angry about a host of things - some as trivial as the plant Jonah pouted over. 3

4 b. Many today, like Jonah, have no compassion for the lost especially for those they do not like or hate. c. This lack of concern for the lost manifests itself in a variety of ways. Do not pray for the lost. Do not prepare themselves to teach the lost. Refuse to teach those they do not like. Do not financially support those seeking to teach the lost. Oppose funds being spent to reach the lost. Show even greater indifference to teaching those they do not like. Try to justify their indifference by teaching those they do not care about do not deserve salvation. Justify their behavior by being concerned about all kinds of different things. Justify their behavior by teaching or implying those they do not like do not have a soul. d. Yes, there are still Jonah s among God s children today. God Revealed His Compassion JON 4:11 "And should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?" 1. God was much more concerned about the lost souls of Nineveh than over a plant. 2. God wanted the many souls who lived there to be saved. 3. God desires all men to be saved. (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). a. God is not a respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34, 35). b. He did not create some to be saved and others to be lost. c. He wants the gospel to preached to the whole world. (Matt. 28:19, 20; Mk. 16:15; Acts 1:8). d. Salvation is offered to all who trust and obey Jesus. (Jn. 3:16, 36). 4. who do not know the difference between their right and help hand a. This does not appear to be a description of the whole population of Nineveh. b. Those who did not know the difference between the right and left hand would not be accountable. c. The Ninevites clearly knew right from wrong and God demanded they repent of their wickedness. d. Many or most understand the language here to be describing the small children of Nineveh. 1) Some have calculated that the small children in a population made up about one-fifth of the population. 2) Based on this reasonable assumption, this means the population of the city was somewhere around 600,000 [5 times 120,000]. 4

5 e. Little children are not accountable to God not having a clear distinction and understanding of right and wrong. Some Closing Thoughts 1. The book of Jonah reveals one cannot flee from the presence of God. (Psa. 139:7-10). 2. Jonah coming forth the stomach of the great fish was a foreshadowing of Jesus coming forth from the tomb. (Matt. 12:38-42). a. Jesus was actually in the tomb 3 days and 2 nights. 1) Jesus was there Friday and Saturday night. 2) He was in the tomb part of Friday, all day Saturday, and part of Sunday. 3) He was buried late on Friday just before sunset and was raised very early on Sunday morning. (Lk. 24:1). b. We cannot be sure about the exact time Jonah was in the great fish. 1) He may have been there three days and three nights. There is not any evidence to contradict this time frame. 2) Since Jesus resurrection is compared to Jonah s resurrection, it is possible Jonah was in the fish about the same amount of time Jesus was in the tomb. c. Jesus had prophesied he would be raised on the third day. (Jn. 2:19-21; Matt. 16:21). a. The Jewish leaders were fearful of His promise. (Matt. 27:64). MAT 27:64 "Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, lest the disciples come and steal Him away and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last deception will be worse than the first." b. Paul proclaimed Jesus fulfilled the scriptures by being raised the third day. (1 Cor. 15:3,4). c. Peter also confirmed this fact. (Acts 10:40). ACT 10:40 "God raised Him up on the third day, and granted that He should become visible, 3. We learn, from this book, that God has always been concerned about the Gentiles, and they could be saved in the Old Testament dispensation.. a. God is merciful to those who repent. b. He is full of wrath for those who refuse to repent. (Jn. 3:36; Rom. 11:22; 2 Thess. 1:8,9). c. See also these scriptures that speak of the wrath of God. (Rom. 1:18; 2:5; 5:9; 12:19). ROM 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ROM 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ROM 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through 5

6 Him. ROM 12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 4. We can be confident this account of Jonah and the great fish is actually true. a. It was a miracle, and it is a mistake to seek to explain it in some natural way. b. God s power and mercy are at the heart of this book. 5. This book and a number of Old Testament passages reveal that God loved the Gentiles. (Rom. 15:9-12) ROM 15:9 and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, "Therefore I will give praise to Thee among the Gentiles, And I will sing to Thy name." ROM 15:10 And again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people." ROM 15:11 And again, "Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, And let all the peoples praise Him." ROM 15:12 And again Isaiah says, "There shall come the root of Jesse, And He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, In Him shall the Gentiles hope." a. Most Gentiles turned their backs on God and because of this God permitted them to follow their own ways. ACT 14:16 "And in the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; b. God still loved Gentiles. c. God had always planned to save the ones who trusted in Him. (Gen. 12:3; 22:18). GEN 12:3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. " GEN 22:18 "And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." 6. This book clearly reveals that God employs His creation to accomplish His divine plan. a. He controls the weather. (Jon. 1:4, 11, 13, 15: 4:8). b. He prepared a sea-monster of some kind to swallow Jonah and teach Jonah who was actually in control. (Jon. 1:17). c. He also prepared a vine, and a worm to accomplish His purposes. (Jon. 4:6,7). 7. This book clearly illustrates that the Almighty God of heaven is the One who controls the destiny of the nations. a. Assyria was allowed to stand because it turned to God. b. God rules in the kingdoms of men and allows them to stand or fall according to His Divine will. (Psa. 22:28; Prov. 14:34; Dan. 2:21; 4:17). PSA 22:28 For the kingdom is the Lord's, And He rules over the nations. PRO 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people. 6

7 DAN 2:21 "And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, And knowledge to men of understanding. DAN 4:17 "This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers, And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And bestows it on whom He wishes, And sets over it the lowliest of men." c. Those who believe nations stand or fall because of a strong national defense are ignorant of the power of God and how it works. d. No nation has stood or will ever stand in opposition to the will of God. "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." ( 7